Device for thoroughly emptying boot silos



Feb. 8, 1966 Filed April 2l,

A. REIMBERT 3,233,796

DEVICE FOR THOROUGHLY EMPTYING BOOT SILOS 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. s,196s A. REMBERT 3,233,793

DEVICE FOR THOROUGHLY EMPTYING BOOT SILOS Filed April 21, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 9

United States Patent Oiliee 3,233,796 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 7 Claims.(l. zzz-464) This invention relates to devices for thoroughly emptyingboot silos for grains or pulverulent materials which are equipped eitherwith a vertical anti-dynamic tube associated or not with an inclineddischarge tube, or simply with an inclined centering discharge tube whenthe boot discharge orifice is disposed eccentrically.

In either case it is known to provide at the lower end of theanti-dynamic tube or of the inclined tube which underlies the dischargeorifice a collar or flange having substantially the shape of an invertedfunnel of which the lower edge somewhat spaced above the upper edge ofsaid discharge orice projects therefrom when seen in horizontal plane,thus permitting the complete discharge of the silo, the residualmaterial in the bottom of said boot passing between the walls of saidboot and the edge of said funnel-shaped collar or iiange at the end ofthe discharge operation. Of course, the relative spacing of these twomembers should be calculated with a view to prevent the passage of thesiloed mass oi material until the latter ows through the anti-dynamictube or the inclined tube, the pressure exerted by the upper strata ofsaid material producing till then, in the gap thus left between said twomembers, a kind of wedging of said material as a function of itsinternal angle of friction. On the other hand, when the pressure of saidupper strata of material has decreased sufliciently as a consequence ofthe discharge in progress through the discharge tube, the flow should bestarted and completed by causing the material to pass through said gap.However, it is frequently observed that the known funnel-shaped collaror liange disposed at the lower end of the discharge tube is subjectedin the inoperative conditions to stress in proportion to the height anddensity of the siloed mass. Therefore, this funnel-shaped member isliable to deteriorate inasmuch as its position on the end of a tubemounted inside the silo increases its fragility and makes its mountingor replacement rather awkward.

It is the essential object of the present invention to provide aboot-silo discharge device having the same function as the arrangementbroadly described hereniabove but which is free of the above-mentioneddrawbacks, the device of this invention being applicable to anyboot-silo having a central or eccentric discharge orifice.

With this object in View, the present invention provides a devicecapable of discharging completely a silo for storing granular orpulverulent materials, which comprises a boot and is equipped with aninclined discharge tube connected or not to a vertical anti-dynamicdischarge tube or a tube acting as a centering member, the lower end ofsaid inclined tube coacting with said discharge orifice of said boot andalso with an auxiliary adjustment member with a view to thoroughlyemptying of the silo, this device being characterized in that the lowerend of said inclined discharge tube underlying the boot opens into akind of funnel surrounding the lower end of said boot and having aninherent discharge aperture, the discharge orifice of said boot alsoopening into said funnel, the communication between said two membersbeing adjusted by means of an inclined baiiie plate disposedtherebetween in said funnel so as to provide at least y URES 4, 5 and 6,the device is further simplified.

one throttled passage such that the ow of said material through saidthrottled passage is permitted only at the end of the ow of materialthrough said inclined discharge tube, thus emptying the silo completely.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of themanner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammaticallyby way of example typical forms of embodiment of the invention. In thedrawings:

FIGURE 1 is a section taken upon the line I-I of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plane view from beneath of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same device;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are views corresponding to FIG- URES l, 2 and 3respectively, but showing an alternate form of embodiment of the deviceof this invention;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are likewise and respectively a sectional View, aplane view from above and a vertical section taken upon the line IX-IXof FIGURE 7, showing a third form of embodiment of this invention;

FIGURES 10, ll and 12 are an axial elevational section, a horizontalsection taken upon the line XI-XI of FIGURE l2, and a side elevationalview of a modified form of embodiment, and

FIGURE 13 is a diagram illustrating the application of this invention toa silo boot having an eccentric discharge orice.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1designates a silo boot having substantially the shape of a frustum of apyramid having a square base, the inner space 2 of the silo beingprovided with a conventional discharge orifice 3 also of quadrangularcon-figuration. The silo is provided with a conventional anti-dynamicdischarge tube i which in this example is juxtaposed to the inner wallof the silo and formed with perforations 5. This tube 4 extends throughthe boot 1 and is connected to the inclined discharge tube proper 6disposed externally of this boot and applied preferably (but notcompulsorily) against the outer face thereof, as shown. At its lowerportion this tube 6 opens into a kind of substantially quadrangularfunnel 7 formed at its lower end with a discharge aperture 8 odsetverti-v cally and laterally in relation to the discharge orifice 3i ofthe hopper. This funnel is bound on the left-hand side (as seen inFIGURE l) by a transverse wall 9 in-` clined to the vertical and merginginto the lower dis-- charge aperture 8 at a point A. This inclined Wall9 is: combined with a bafiie plate 10 secured on the lower edge of theoutiiow orice 3 and directed transversally eg. substantially at rightangles to said wall 9. Between the free edge B of this baiiie plate 10and the wall 9 a gap 11 is provided. As clearly shown in FIGURES 2. and3, the baiiie plate 10 extends throughout the width of funnel 7.

As shown by this first example the device of this invention isparticularly simple, economical and efficient, and requires noadditional control or handling operation, since the switching from'outflow through the conventional tubes to residual outilow takes placeautomatically.

In the second form of embodiment illustrated in FIG- In this alternateexample only the discharge device and the inclined tube 6a are shown,but as in the preceding form of embodiment this tube is assumed to ybeconnected to, say, an anti-dynamic vtube (not shown). This tube 6a opensinto a box 7a similar .to the funnel 7 of the preceding example, andthis box 7a has likewise at its lower end a discharge aperture 8a. Theessential diiference 'between the two devices lies in the fact that thebaiile plate 10a constitutes in this case an extension of thecorresponding lower face of the boot and has th-e same width as thefunnel 7a. The inclined Wall 9a lof funn-el '7a is secured on the outeredge of the discharge orifice 3 of the main boot. As clearly shown, thesiloed material is compelled to flow .through the gap lia providedbetween the free edge of plate 10a .and .the wall 9a.

Referring now to the diagrammatic FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 it will be seenthat they derive directly from FIGURES 4, and 6 respectively but applyto the specific case of `a solid-walled boot 1a of concrete or likematerial, or a boot supported directly by the door. The inclined face 9bcor-responds to the inclined face 9a of FlGURE 4. As in FIGURE 4 thebalile plate lla is the extension of one of the faces 1a of the mainboot .and has an edge B locate-d inside the funnel '7a. It -may be notedthat in this specific examplethe lower discharge aperture Se is disposedjust under the discharge oriiice 3a of the boot.

The vform of embodiment `according to the diagrams of FIGURES 10, l1 andl2 difiers from the preceding one, as proved more particularly by acomparison between the diagrammatic FIGURES 7 and l0, by the fact thatit is not the boot wail ia to which the inclined discharge tube 6a isjuxtaposed, but the opposite wail 1b having to, this end an extensionunderlying the upper end of the discharge orifice `of the boot toconstitute .the battle plate 10a having a lower edge A. This plate, incombination with the lower edge B of wall 1a, constitutes the throttlinggap 11a and its lower edge`A, in combination with the lower wall of theinclined tube, constitutes the gap ilb, the residual siloed materialllowing automatically through these two gaps immediately when the ilowthrough the inclined tube 6b has ceased.

Of course, lother inclined discharge tubes connected or not .toanti-dynamic or centering discharge tubes may -be disposed -under theface 1b of the lboot and adapted to open into the same discharge funnel8a without being provided with the device shown in FIGURE 10, the latterbeing sufficient per se to complete the emptying of the silo.

As clearly shown by the diagrammatic FIGURE 13 the device of thisinvention is also applicable to boot silos having an eccentric dischargeorice. In this case the inclined discharge tube 6c is also shown asbeing applied against the inclined face 1c of the boot constituting thebottom of the silo 2. The upper end 6d of tube 6c extends within thesilo and may be connected therein to lan anti-dynamic perforated tube,the lower end of this tube 6c opening as in the other forms ofembodiment into the funnel 7 formed at its lower end with the dischargeaperture 8. The throttled passage provided in the preceding forms ofembodiment consists in this case of the inclined wall 9c and .the bailleplate ltib registers with this wall 9c and has its edge disposed at aproperly calculated spacing so that the resulting gap llc has the samefunction as the gaps 11, 11a and 11b of the preceding forms ofembodiment.

Of course, the typical examples described hereinabove ink conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting thescope of the invention as many modifications may be brought theretowithout departing from the basic principles of the invention. Althoughin these forms of embodiment the boots and funnels illustrated have theshape of quadrangular frustums of pyramids in order to simplify thedrawings, it is clear that the invention is also applicable to apparatusand silos tof which the boots and funnels have the shape of polygonalfrustums of pyramid or cone having any desired crosssectionalconguration. The orice 8, Sa are provided with hand-controlled valves orshutters.

What l claim is:

l. An arrangement for emptying a silo loaded with granular orpulverulent material and having an upper portion and a bottom portiontapering towards its lower end and formed at said lower end with adischarge orifice, Sa1d arrangement comprising a substantially verticaltube having an inlet portion in said upper portion of said silo forreceiving material frornsaid upper silo portion, said vertical tubeextending with a lower end portion thereof through said bottom portionof said silo; a discharge tube joined at its upper end to said lower endof said vertical tube and extending inclined to the latter toward saiddischarge orice; funnel means located beneath said discharge orice `andcommunicating at an upper wider end thereof with said dis-charge orificeand with a lower end of said discharge tube, said funnel means being inpart defined by a downwardly inclined wall plate having an upper edgelocated at one side of said discharge orice; and a downwardly inclinedbaffle plate having an upper edge located at the other side of saiddischarge orifice and in the region of said upper end of said funnelmeans and extending from said upper edge lof said baffle plate towardsaid wall plate transversally thereto with the lower free edge of saidbaille plate spaced a small distance from said Wall plate and deiining arestricted passage therewith, one of said plates forming substantially acontinuation .of said discharge tube so as to direct material flowingtherethrough against the other plate and onto the region of the latterbeneath said restricted passage, so that, as long as material flowsthrough said discharge tube, the dynamic pressure of the materialiiowing there` through against said region of said other plate willprevent outliow of material from said silo through said dischargeoriiice and said restricted passage.

2. An arrangement for emptying a silo loaded with granular orpulverulent material and having an upper portion and a ibotttom portiontapering towards its lower end and formed at said lower end with adischarge orifice, said arrangement comprising a substantially verticaltube having an inlet portion in said upper portion of said silo forreceiving material from said upper silo portion, said vertical tubeextending with a lower end portion thereof through said bottom portionof said silo; a discharge tube joined at its upper end to said lower endof said vertical tube and extending inclined to the latter toward saiddischarge orifice; funnel means located beneath said discharge orificeand communicating at an upper wider end thereof with said dischargeorifice and with a lower end of said discharge tube, said .funnel meansbeing in part defined by a wall having an upper edge located at one sideof said discharge orifice and extending from said upper edge downwardlyinclined and in the direction opposite to the inclination of saiddischarge tube and facing with a portion thereof the lower end of thelatter; and a downwardly inclined battle plate having an upper edgelocated at the other side of said discharge orifice and in the region ofsaid upper end of said funnel means and extending lfrom said upper edgeof said baffle plate toward said wall transversally thereto with thelower free edge of said baffle plate spaced a small distance from saidwall and defining a restricted passage therewith, said baffle plateforming substantially a continuation of said discharge tube so as todirect material flowing therethrough against said wall and onto theregion of the latter beneath said restricted passage, so that, as longas material flows through said discharge tube, the dynamic pressure ofthe material ilowing therethrough against said region of said Wall willprevent outflow of material from said silo through said dischargeorifice and said restricted passage.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said upper edge ofsaid baille plate is connected to said discharge tube along an upperedge portion of the lower end of the latter.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lower edge ofsaid inclined wall is located substantially centrally beneath saiddischarge orifice.

5. An arrangement as set -forth in claim 2, wherein References Cited bythe Examiner the upper and the lower edges of said inclined wall are eboth located at said one side of said discharge orifice. UNITED UTATESPATENTS 6. An arrangement as set 'forth in claim 1, wherein 29944608/1961 Matthews 222-149 X said baille plate is inclined in a directionopposite to 5 3029986 4/1962 Hom et al* 222-478 the inclination of saiddischarge tube and faces the FOREIGN PATENTS lower end of the latter.1,031,936 6/1954 Fran '7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1,wherein 521,025 5/1940 Great Britain said vertical tube is formed insaid inlet region thereof with a plurality of perforations spacedcircumferentially 10 RAPHAEL M' LUPO Prmary Examiner' and verticallyfrom each other. ROBERT B. REEVES, F. R. HANDREN, Examiners.

1. AN ARRANGEMENT FOR EMPTYING A SILO LOADED WITH GRANULAR ORPULVERULENT MATERIAL AND HAVING AN UPPER PORTION AND A BOTTOM PORTIONTAPERING TOWARDS ITS LOWER END AND FORMED AT SAID LOWER END WITH ADISCHARGE ORIFICE, SAID ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALTUBE HAVING AN INLET PORTION IN SAID UPPER PORTION OF SAID SILO FORRECEIVING MATERIAL FROM SAID UPPER SILO PORTION SAID VERTICAL TUBEEXTENDING WITH A LOWER END PORTION THEREOF THROUGH SAID BOTTOM PORTIONOF SAID SILO; A DISCHARGE TUBE JOINED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID LOWER ENDOF SAID VERTICAL TUBE AND EXTENDING INCLINED TO THE LATTER TOWARD SAIDDISCHARGE ORIFICE; FUNNEL MEANS LOCATED BENEATH SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICEAND COMMUNICATING AT AN UPPER WIDER END THEREOF WITH SAID DISCHARGEORIFICE AND WITH A LOWER END OF SAID DISCHARGE TUBE, SAID FUNNEL MEANSBEING IN PART DEFINED BY A DOWNWARDLY INCLINED WALL PLATE HAVING ANUPPER EDGE LOCATED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE; AND ADOWNWARDLY INCLINED BAFFLE PLATE HAVING AN UPPER EDGE LOCATED AT THEOTHER SIDE OF SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE AND IN THE REGION OF SAID UPPER ENDOF SAID FUNNEL MEANS AND EXTENDING FROM SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID BAFFLEPLATE TOWARD SAID WALL PLATE TRANSVERSALLY THERETO WITH THE LOWER FREEEDGE OF SAID BAFFLE PLATE SPACED A SMALL DISTANCE FROM SAID WALL PLATEAND DEFINING A RESTRICTED PASSAGE THEREWITH, ONE OF SAID PLATES FORMINGSUBSTANTIALLY A CONTINUATION OF SAID DISCHARGE TUBE SO AS TO DIRECTMATERIAL FLOWING THERETHROUGH AGAINST THE OTHER PLATE AND ONTO THEREGION OF THE LATTER BENEATH SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGE, SO THAT, AS LONGAS MATERIAL FLOWS THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE TUBE, THE DYNAMIC PRESSURE OFTHE MATERIAL FLOWING THERETHROUGH AGAINST SAID REGION OF SAID OTHERPLATE WILL PREVENT OUTFLOW OF MATERIAL FROM SAID SILO THROUGH SAIDDISCHARGE ORIFICE AND SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGE.